Cristiano Ronaldo may be on the verge of bidding farewell to the National Team, with his sister Katia Aveiro dropping a bombshell that is shaking the football world: this year's World Cup will most likely be the final chapter for the Portuguese international wearing the jersey of the Quinas. The revelation, made by Katia Aveiro in Toronto and reported by the newspaper Record, caught fans and analysts by surprise, particularly due to the lack of official confirmation from Ronaldo himself or the Portuguese Football Federation.
Katia Aveiro left no room for doubt regarding what she believes to be the imminent conclusion of her brother's international career. Speaking to the media ahead of the match between Portugal and Croatia in the Round of 16, Katia was emphatic: “From the information I have, you can start saying goodbye, because I truly believe this is it, so enjoy it.” The sister of the Portuguese captain added: “I don’t believe the farewell will be today, but it is close. I really believe this is the goodbye, so make the most of it, because it will be hard to find another like him.” Katia emphasized that her conviction is based on a reliable source, reinforcing the idea that this will be Ronaldo's “last dance” in service of the national team.
Despite the strong statements, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor the Portuguese Football Federation has issued any official statement confirming the decision. Nevertheless, Katia Aveiro's words are, at this moment, the clearest indication that the forward's cycle with the national team may be coming to an end, leaving the footballing world on alert for one of the biggest events in the history of national sport.
The impact of this news cannot be underestimated. Cristiano Ronaldo, currently 41 years old, is not only the most capped Portuguese footballer of all time but also one of the greatest ever. With notable stints at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and, more recently, Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has won five Ballon d'Or awards and was the first player to reach 900 official career goals, currently standing just seven short of the legendary milestone of 1,000 goals – a target he has always publicly stated he aims to achieve. For the national team, Ronaldo was a key figure in the unprecedented victory at Euro 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, elevating Portugal to the highest level of European football.
The only trophy that has eluded the Madeira star is the World Cup, with his best performance occurring right at the start, in 2006, where he finished in fourth place. Now, in what will likely be his sixth and final World Cup appearance, signs of wear are evident, with growing criticism following a one-all draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Ronaldo failed to score. However, he responded in style with a brace against Uzbekistan, becoming the first footballer to score in six different World Cups. At the end of that match, Ronaldo himself admitted that he had gone through a “difficult, gloomy week,” confessing to reporters that he felt as though he had already left football behind.
These statements from the Portuguese captain, combined with recent words from his sister, place even greater focus on the upcoming match against Croatia, which could very well mark the beginning of the farewell to the top scorer in the history of the national team. “I’m talking about the National Team. From the information I have, from a reliable source, I believe this is the last dance. So, let’s make the most of it, let’s enjoy it as much as possible,” emphasized Katia Aveiro, urging fans to value every minute of Ronaldo on the field.
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What follows is a mix of nostalgia and expectation. The National Team and the fans are preparing to experience each game as if it were the last for their captain, aware that Portuguese football may be on the verge of losing its greatest reference. The potential farewell of Cristiano Ronaldo will leave an unparalleled legacy, but it also raises the question: who will take on the role of leader and the greatest symbol of the team after the captain's departure? The coming weeks promise intense emotions, with all attention focused on Ronaldo and what could be the final chapter of a truly legendary career.
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